| |||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 54.04% | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||
Spanberger: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Earle-Sears: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| Elections in Virginia |
|---|
The 2025 Virginia gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin was ineligible to run for re-election, as the Constitution of Virginia prohibits its governors from serving consecutive terms. The Democratic Party held its primary election on April 5, which former U.S. representative Abigail Spanberger won uncontested. Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears won the Republican nomination uncontested.
Spanberger defeated Earle-Sears in a landslide, the largest since the 2009 Virginia gubernatorial election. As of November 2025, Virginia is one of eighteen states that has never had a female governor. Spanberger's victory was attributed to voter discontentment with the economy and with Republican president Donald Trump's 2025 layoffs of federal workers. According to a CNN exit poll, Trump had a 39% job approval rating among Virginia voters on election day. Spanberger is scheduled to be sworn in as the 75th governor of Virginia on January 17, 2026.
Although most polls, analysts, and ratings considered Spanberger to be the favorite to win, she won by a greater-than-expected margin of approximately 15%, significantly greater than Kamala Harris's margin of victory of 6% in 2024. Spanberger flipped many counties and independent cities that had not voted Democratic in decades.
Virginia is considered to be a moderately blue state at the federal level, which was carried by Kamala Harris by about six percentage points in the 2024 presidential election, and the last time a Republican won a federal statewide race was in the 2004 presidential election. Democrats control both U.S. Senate seats and the minimum majority in the U.S. House of Representatives and both houses of the Virginia General Assembly. From May 21 until September 10, 2025, Virginia's 11th congressional district was vacant following the death of Democratic representative Gerry Connolly. This temporarily gave Virginia a split House delegation between Democrats and Republicans until Democrat James Walkinshaw won the special election on September 9. [2] However, statewide offices tend to be more competitive as Republicans won all three statewide constitutional offices in the 2021 elections, all of which were up for election in 2025. [3] [4] [5]
President Trump's efforts to shrink the federal workforce were considered to be a potential issue in the election, given that many federal workers reside in Northern Virginia. [6] A July 2025 Virginia Commonwealth University poll found that the most important issues for voters in the campaign were the economy (29%), immigration (14%) and abortion (14%). [7]
Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears was initially viewed as the presumptive Republican nominee for governor. [8] After poor initial polling, and growing dissatisfaction with the lieutenant governor in factions of the party, Earle-Sears drew two challengers: former state senator Amanda Chase and former state delegate Dave LaRock. Both challengers positioned themselves as more loyal to President Donald Trump. [9] [10] Ultimately, neither of them gathered the required signatures to be on the ballot, and Earle-Sears was nominated unopposed. [11]
State senators
| Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Winsome Earle-Sears | $5,677,456 | $1,630,867 | $4,046,590 |
| Amanda Chase (failed to qualify) | $34,835 | $51,204 | $1,538 |
| Dave LaRock (failed to qualify) | $26,874 | $25,813 | $1,060 |
| Source: Virginia Public Access Project [20] | |||
Former U.S. representative Abigail Spanberger won the nomination unopposed after her only challenger, former Richmond mayor Levar Stoney, withdrew in April 2024. Stoney, seeking to avoid a complicated primary, decided to instead run for lieutenant governor. U.S. representative Bobby Scott also publicly considered a bid, but did not file a candidacy. [21]
State legislators
State officials
State legislators
Local officials
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size [a] | Margin of error | Abigail Spanberger | Levar Stoney | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stoney withdraws from the race | ||||||
| Public Policy Polling (D) [30] [A] | March 25–26, 2024 | 734 (LV) | — | 44% | 11% | 45% |
| Christopher Newport University [31] | January 11–16, 2024 | 1000 (RV) | ± 3.7% | 52% | 8% | 40% |
| Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Abigail Spanberger | $16,301,998 | $5,297,212 | $11,004,790 |
| Source: Virginia Public Access Project [20] | |||
This election was the first gubernatorial election in Virginia history in which both major party nominees were female. [33]
In mid-July, Earle-Sears changed campaign managers after trailing Spanberger in fundraising and polling. [34] On August 21, an opponent of Earle-Sears held up a sign outside her speech at an Arlington County School Board meeting stating "Hey Winsome, if trans [ sic ] can't share your bathroom, then Blacks can't share my water fountain", which received widespread attention and was condemned by both Earle-Sears and Spanberger. [35] [36]
The impact of the Department of Government Efficiency and Trump's federal mass layoffs reinforced the economy as the top issue for voters, particularly during the October federal government shutdown. [37] [38] During an interview on September 30 with Meet the Press , Earle-Sears did not answer whether she would ask Trump not to fire any more federal workers. [39]
In October 2025, following messages revealed by the National Review of Jay Jones encouraging political violence towards former Virginia Speaker of the House Todd Gilbert, Spanberger and Ghazala Hashmi called for Jones to apologize and take full responsibility for his messages. Governor Glenn Youngkin called for both of them to call for Jay Jones to step down as a candidate, though neither did. Earle-Sears spent $1 million dollars on ads in the wake of the scandal tying Jones to Spanberger. [40] [41]
Throughout the campaign, Earle-Sears mostly ran campaign attack ads on Spanberger on transgender issues, replicating the attack ads against Kamala Harris for being "for they/them" in the 2024 United States presidential election, despite top election issues being the economy, affordability, threats against democracy and the federal workforce. [42] [43] By contrast, the Spanberger campaign attacked Earle-Sears' stance on abortion and attempted to tie her closely to President Trump.[ citation needed ]
In October 2025, during a football game at James Madison University, a fan hurled a racist remark at Earle-Sears, telling her to "go back to Haiti." The incident was quickly condemned and the fan was suspended from attending all future sporting events. [44]
The in-person early voting period ran from September 19 to November 1, 2025. [45]
Spanberger and Earle-Sears met on October 9, 2025 at Norfolk State University for their one televised debate. [46] Topics discussed during the debate included the Virginia car tax, text messages sent by Jay Jones, the federal government shutdown, affordability, energy and data centers, parents' roles in education, policies relating to transgender students in K-12 schools, reproductive rights, and policies related to marijuana. [47] During the debate, Sears pressed on Spanberger to call for Jones to exit the race and whether she still endorses Jones. [48] When asked on whether she would tell Trump to reopen the government, Sears accused Spanberger of "politicizing" the 2025 federal mass firings by the Trump administration. Spanberger claimed that Sears had previously stated that same-sex couples should not be allowed to marry and that firing employees for being gay was acceptable. After both claims, Sears interrupted Spanberger by adding "that's not discrimination". [48] [49] When asked about these comments in an interview on October 28, she claimed that she had misspoken and that she meant to say that she had not personally discriminated against gay people in that manner. [50]
| No. | Date | Host | Moderators | Link | Republican | Democratic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Key: P Participant A Absent N Not invited I Invited W Withdrawn | ||||||
| Earle-Sears | Spanberger | |||||
| 1 | October 9, 2025 | WAVY-TV Norfolk State University | Deanna Albrittin Tom Schaad | [51] | P | P |
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report [52] | Likely D (flip) | September 11, 2025 |
| Inside Elections [53] | Lean D (flip) | August 28, 2025 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball [54] | Likely D (flip) | September 4, 2025 |
| Race to the WH [55] | Safe D (flip) | October 26, 2025 |
| State Navigate [56] | Solid D (flip) | August 22, 2025 |
Aggregate polls
| Source of poll aggregation | Dates administered | Dates updated | Abigail Spanberger (D) | Winsome Earle-Sears (R) | Other/Undecided [c] | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decision Desk HQ [109] | through November 3, 2025 | November 3, 2025 | 52.3% | 43.1% | 4.6% | Spanberger +9.2% |
| FiftyPlusOne [110] | through November 3, 2025 | November 3, 2025 | 53.1% | 42.4% | 4.5% | Spanberger +10.7% |
| Race to the WH [111] | through November 3, 2025 | November 4, 2025 | 52.3% | 42.8% | 4.9% | Spanberger +9.5% |
| RealClearPolitics [112] | October 16 – November 3, 2025 | November 3, 2025 | 52.9% | 42.7% | 4.4% | Spanberger +10.2% |
| VoteHub [113] | through November 3, 2025 | November 3, 2025 | 52.1% | 42.9% | 5.0% | Spanberger +9.2% |
| Average | 52.5% | 42.8% | 4.7% | Spanberger +9.7% | ||
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size [a] | Margin of error | Winsome Earle-Sears (R) | Abigail Spanberger (D) | Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantus Insights (R) [114] | November 3, 2025 | 1,201 (LV) | ± 2.7% | 44% | 53% | 1% | 2% |
| InsiderAdvantage (R) [115] | November 2–3, 2025 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 40% | 50% | 5% [d] | 5% |
| Research Co. [116] | November 2–3, 2025 | 423 (LV) | ± 4.6% | 46% | 54% | – | – |
| 450 (LV) | 43% | 51% | – | 6% | |||
| The Trafalgar Group (R) [117] | November 1–2, 2025 | 1,057 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 43% | 50% | 1% [e] | 6% |
| Emerson College [118] [B] | October 30–31, 2025 | 880 (LV) | ± 3.2% | 44% | 55% | 0% | 1% |
| Echelon Insights [119] | October 28–31, 2025 | 606 (LV) | ± 4.7% | 43% | 55% | – | 2% |
| AtlasIntel [120] | October 25–30, 2025 | 1,325 (LV) | ± 3.0% | 45% | 54% | 0% [f] | 1% |
| SoCal Strategies (R) [121] [C] | October 28–29, 2025 | 800 (LV) | – | 43% | 53% | – | 4% |
| State Navigate [122] | October 26–28, 2025 | 614 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 41% | 54% | – | 5% |
| InsiderAdvantage (R)/ The Trafalgar Group (R) [123] | October 27–28, 2025 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 42% | 46% | 4% [g] | 8% |
| Roanoke College [124] | October 22–27, 2025 | 1,041 (LV) | ± 4.1% | 41% | 51% | 3% [h] | 5% |
| YouGov [125] | October 17–28, 2025 | 1,179 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 42% | 57% | 2% | – |
| 41% | 55% | 0% | 4% | ||||
| A2 Insights [126] | October 24–26, 2025 | 776 (LV) | – | 46% | 54% | – | 1% |
| Christopher Newport University [127] | October 21–23, 2025 | 803 (LV) | ± 4.1% | 43% | 50% | – | 6% |
| Suffolk University [128] | October 19–21, 2025 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 43% | 52% | 1% [i] | 4% |
| Quantus Insights (R) [129] | October 19–20, 2025 | 1,302 (RV) | ± 2.8% | 46% | 51% | 1% | 2% |
| State Navigate [130] | October 17–20, 2025 | 694 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 42% | 55% | – | 3% |
| The Washington Post/Schar School [131] | October 16–20, 2025 | 927 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 42% | 54% | 2% [j] | 2% |
| 927 (RV) | 40% | 53% | 5% [k] | 2% | |||
| Kaplan Strategies (R) [132] | October 16–18, 2025 | 556 (LV) | ± 4.2% | 41% | 51% | – | 7% |
| co/efficient (R) [133] | October 15–17, 2025 | 937 (LV) | ± 3.2% | 44% | 49% | 1% [e] | 6% |
| Clarity Campaign Labs (D) [134] [D] | October 14–17, 2025 | 958 (RV) | ± 3.2% | 43% | 53% | – | 4% |
| The Trafalgar Group (R)/ InsiderAdvantage (R) [135] | October 13–15, 2025 | 1,039 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 45% | 47% | 1% [e] | 6% |
| Virginia Commonwealth University [136] | October 6–14, 2025 | 842 (A) | ± 4.0% | 42% | 49% | – | 9% |
| The Trafalgar Group (R) [137] | October 8–10, 2025 | 1,034 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 45% | 48% | 2% [l] | 6% |
| Public Policy Polling (D) [138] [E] | October 7–8, 2025 | 558 (RV) | – | 43% | 52% | – | 5% |
| Cygnal (R) [139] | October 6–7, 2025 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 45% | 49% | – | 6% |
| Christopher Newport University [140] | September 29 – October 1, 2025 | 805 (RV) | ± 3.9% | 42% | 52% | – | 6% |
| The Trafalgar Group (R) [141] | September 29 – October 1, 2025 | 1,034 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 42% | 47% | 2% [l] | 9% |
| Emerson College [142] [B] | September 28–29, 2025 | 725 (LV) | ± 3.6% | 42% | 52% | – | 5% |
| The Washington Post/Schar School [143] | September 25–29, 2025 | 1,002 (LV) | ± 3.4% | 43% | 55% | 1% [m] | 2% |
| 1,002 (RV) | 40% | 53% | 4% [n] | 3% | |||
| A2 Insights [144] | September 16–28, 2025 | 771 (LV) | – | 45% | 48% | 1% [o] | 6% |
| co/efficient (R) [145] | September 22–23, 2025 | 1,024 (LV) | ± 3.1% | 43% | 49% | 1% [e] | 7% |
| OnMessage Inc. (R) [146] | September 15–18, 2025 | 800 (V) | ± 3.5% | 45% | 50% | – | 5% |
| Christopher Newport University [147] | September 8–14, 2025 | 808 (RV) | ± 3.9% | 40% | 52% | – | 8% |
| Cygnal (R) [139] | September 7, 2025 | – (V) | – | 43% | 50% | – | 7% |
| Pulse Decision Science (R) [148] [F] | September 3–5, 2025 | 512 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 43% | 48% | 1% [e] | 8% |
| SoCal Strategies (R) [149] [G] | August 31 – September 1, 2025 | 700 (LV) | – | 41% | 53% | – | 6% |
| Virginia Commonwealth University [150] | August 18–28, 2025 | 764 (RV) | ± 4.1% | 40% | 49% | 2% [p] | 11% |
| co/efficient (R) [151] | August 23–26, 2025 | 1,025 (LV) | ± 3.1% | 43% | 48% | 3% [q] | 7% |
| Roanoke College [152] [153] | August 11–15, 2025 | 702 (LV) | ± 4.3% | 39% | 46% | 1% [r] | 14% |
| Wick Insights [154] | July 9–11, 2025 | 1,000 (LV) | ± 3.0% | 40% | 50% | 2% [l] | 8% |
| American Directions Research Group/AARP [155] | June 25 – July 8, 2025 | 1,001 (LV) | ± 3.1% | 34% | 49% | 8% [s] | 9% |
| Virginia Commonwealth University [156] | June 19–July 3, 2025 | 806 (A) | ± 4.7% | 37% | 49% | 2% [p] | 12% |
| co/efficient (R) [157] [H] | June 8–10, 2025 | 1,127 (LV) | ± 3.1% | 43% | 46% | 2% [l] | 9% |
| Roanoke College [158] [159] | May 12–19, 2025 | 609 (RV) | ± 5.3% | 26% | 43% | 3% [t] | 28% |
| Pantheon Insight/HarrisX [160] [I] | May 9–13, 2025 | 1,000 (LV) | ± 3.1% | 48% | 52% | – | – |
| 45% | 48% | 7% [u] | – | ||||
| Cygnal (R) [161] | February 26–28, 2025 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 40% | 46% | – | 14% |
| Roanoke College [162] | February 17–20, 2025 | 690 (RV) | ± 4.7% | 24% | 39% | 4% [v] | 33% |
| co/efficient (R) [163] [J] | January 18–20, 2025 | 867 (LV) | ± 3.3% | 40% | 40% | 5% [w] | 15% |
| Virginia Commonwealth University [164] | December 18, 2024 – January 15, 2025 | 806 (A) | ± 4.7% | 34% | 44% | 5% [x] | 17% |
| Christopher Newport University [165] | January 6–13, 2025 | 806 (RV) | ± 3.6% | 39% | 44% | 6% [y] | 12% |
| Emerson College [166] [B] | January 6–8, 2025 | 1,000 (RV) | ± 3.0% | 41% | 42% | 4% [v] | 13% |
| Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy [167] | December 15–19, 2024 | 625 (RV) | ± 4.0% | 44% | 47% | – | 9% |
| Research America Inc. [168] [K] | September 3–9, 2024 | 1,000 (A) | ± 3.1% | 39% | 39% | 10% [z] | 12% |
| co/efficient (R) [169] [H] | September 7–10, 2023 | 834 (LV) | ± 3.4% | 26% | 27% | – | 47% |
Winsome Earle-Sears vs. Bobby Scott
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Winsome Earle-Sears (R) | Bobby Scott (D) | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy [167] | December 15–19, 2024 | 625 (RV) | ± 4.0% | 46% | 44% | 10% |
Jason Miyares vs. Abigail Spanberger
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size [a] | Margin of error | Jason Miyares (R) | Abigail Spanberger (D) | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research America Inc. [168] [K] | September 3–9, 2024 | 1,000 (A) | ± 3.1% | 39% | 40% | 12% |
| co/efficient (R) [169] [H] | September 7–10, 2023 | 834 (LV) | ± 3.4% | 22% | 26% | 52% |
On November 4, 2025, Spanberger defeated Earle-Sears [170] in a landslide, winning by the widest margin for a Democrat since 1961. [171] Spanberger is scheduled to be sworn in as the 75th governor of Virginia and the state's first female governor on January 17, 2026. [172]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Abigail Spanberger | 1,976,856 | 57.58% | +8.94% | |
| Republican | Winsome Earle-Sears | 1,449,586 | 42.22% | −8.36% | |
| Write-in | 6,897 | 0.20% | +0.12% | ||
| Total votes | 3,433,339 | 100.00% | |||
| Registered electors | |||||
| Turnout | |||||
| Democratic gain from Republican | |||||
| Locality [174] | Winsome Earle-Sears Republican | Abigail Spanberger Democratic | Write-in Various | Margin | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Accomack | 7,129 | 54.57% | 5,925 | 45.35% | 10 | 0.08% | −1,204 | −9.22% | 13,064 |
| Albemarle | 16,480 | 29.48% | 39,322 | 70.35% | 93 | 0.17% | 22,842 | 40.87% | 55,895 |
| Alexandria | 10,424 | 16.59% | 52,230 | 83.11% | 190 | 0.30% | 41,806 | 66.52% | 62,844 |
| Alleghany | 4,011 | 69.14% | 1,779 | 30.67% | 11 | 0.19% | −2,232 | −38.48% | 5,801 |
| Amelia | 4,521 | 71.08% | 1,831 | 28.79% | 8 | 0.13% | −2,690 | −42.30% | 6,360 |
| Amherst | 8,811 | 67.13% | 4,294 | 32.72% | 20 | 0.15% | −4,517 | −34.42% | 13,125 |
| Appomattox | 5,609 | 75.94% | 1,765 | 23.90% | 12 | 0.16% | −3,844 | −52.04% | 7,386 |
| Arlington | 15,929 | 15.96% | 83,657 | 83.81% | 235 | 0.24% | 67,728 | 67.85% | 99,821 |
| Augusta | 24,612 | 71.98% | 9,522 | 27.85% | 60 | 0.18% | −15,090 | −44.13% | 34,194 |
| Bath | 1,421 | 74.05% | 493 | 25.69% | 5 | 0.26% | −928 | −48.36% | 1,919 |
| Bedford | 29,166 | 74.27% | 10,048 | 25.59% | 57 | 0.15% | −19,118 | −48.68% | 39,271 |
| Bland | 1,974 | 81.64% | 441 | 18.24% | 3 | 0.12% | −1,533 | −63.40% | 2,418 |
| Botetourt | 11,820 | 70.27% | 4,969 | 29.54% | 32 | 0.19% | −6,851 | −40.73% | 16,821 |
| Bristol | 3,090 | 64.96% | 1,660 | 34.90% | 7 | 0.15% | −1,430 | −30.06% | 4,757 |
| Brunswick | 2,591 | 43.66% | 3,338 | 56.25% | 5 | 0.08% | 747 | 12.59% | 5,934 |
| Buchanan | 4,434 | 81.91% | 971 | 17.94% | 8 | 0.15% | −3,463 | −63.98% | 5,413 |
| Buckingham | 3,586 | 59.22% | 2,456 | 40.56% | 13 | 0.21% | −1,130 | −18.66% | 6,055 |
| Buena Vista | 1,392 | 66.38% | 696 | 33.19% | 9 | 0.43% | −696 | −33.19% | 2,097 |
| Campbell | 16,878 | 73.25% | 6,130 | 26.60% | 34 | 0.15% | −10,748 | −46.65% | 23,042 |
| Caroline | 6,680 | 49.72% | 6,733 | 50.11% | 23 | 0.17% | 53 | 0.39% | 13,436 |
| Carroll | 8,889 | 78.33% | 2,433 | 21.44% | 26 | 0.23% | −6,456 | −56.89% | 11,348 |
| Charles City | 1,485 | 42.53% | 2,002 | 57.33% | 5 | 0.14% | 517 | 14.81% | 3,492 |
| Charlotte | 3,159 | 67.07% | 1,545 | 32.80% | 6 | 0.13% | −1,614 | −34.27% | 4,710 |
| Charlottesville | 2,056 | 10.88% | 16,799 | 88.93% | 35 | 0.19% | 14,743 | 78.05% | 18,890 |
| Chesapeake | 42,147 | 43.77% | 53,971 | 56.06% | 164 | 0.17% | 11,824 | 12.28% | 96,282 |
| Chesterfield | 70,021 | 40.97% | 100,595 | 58.86% | 294 | 0.17% | 30,574 | 17.89% | 170,910 |
| Clarke | 4,222 | 55.34% | 3,389 | 44.42% | 18 | 0.24% | −833 | −10.92% | 7,629 |
| Colonial Heights | 4,092 | 62.12% | 2,474 | 37.56% | 21 | 0.32% | −1,618 | −24.56% | 6,587 |
| Covington | 999 | 59.57% | 678 | 40.43% | 0 | 0.00% | −321 | −19.14% | 1,677 |
| Craig | 1,806 | 79.25% | 467 | 20.49% | 6 | 0.26% | −1,339 | −58.75% | 2,279 |
| Culpeper | 12,592 | 57.66% | 9,214 | 42.19% | 33 | 0.15% | −3,378 | −15.47% | 21,839 |
| Cumberland | 2,608 | 59.03% | 1,802 | 40.79% | 8 | 0.18% | −806 | −18.24% | 4,418 |
| Danville | 4,592 | 37.34% | 7,678 | 62.43% | 29 | 0.24% | 3,086 | 25.09% | 12,299 |
| Dickenson | 3,427 | 76.80% | 1,028 | 23.04% | 7 | 0.16% | −2,399 | −53.77% | 4,462 |
| Dinwiddie | 7,028 | 58.19% | 5,031 | 41.65% | 19 | 0.16% | −1,997 | −16.53% | 12,078 |
| Emporia | 544 | 32.65% | 1,119 | 67.17% | 3 | 0.18% | 575 | 34.51% | 1,666 |
| Essex | 2,572 | 52.82% | 2,289 | 47.01% | 8 | 0.16% | −283 | −5.81% | 4,869 |
| Fairfax City | 2,847 | 27.28% | 7,552 | 72.37% | 36 | 0.34% | 4,705 | 45.09% | 10,435 |
| Fairfax County | 116,053 | 25.95% | 329,977 | 73.78% | 1,222 | 0.27% | 213,924 | 47.83% | 447,252 |
| Falls Church | 1,181 | 15.54% | 6,407 | 84.30% | 12 | 0.16% | 5,226 | 68.76% | 7,600 |
| Fauquier | 19,894 | 57.55% | 14,610 | 42.27% | 62 | 0.18% | −5,284 | −15.29% | 34,566 |
| Floyd | 4,806 | 64.73% | 2,603 | 35.06% | 16 | 0.22% | −2,203 | −29.67% | 7,425 |
| Fluvanna | 6,718 | 49.95% | 6,712 | 49.91% | 19 | 0.14% | −6 | −0.04% | 13,449 |
| Franklin City | 1,084 | 36.93% | 1,849 | 63.00% | 2 | 0.07% | 765 | 26.06% | 2,935 |
| Franklin County | 16,317 | 70.37% | 6,836 | 29.48% | 36 | 0.16% | −9,481 | −40.89% | 23,189 |
| Frederick | 23,130 | 59.32% | 15,809 | 40.55% | 51 | 0.13% | −7,321 | −18.78% | 38,990 |
| Fredericksburg | 2,943 | 27.93% | 7,561 | 71.76% | 33 | 0.31% | 4,618 | 43.83% | 10,537 |
| Galax | 1,284 | 68.23% | 597 | 31.72% | 1 | 0.05% | −687 | −36.50% | 1,882 |
| Giles | 4,983 | 73.48% | 1,782 | 26.28% | 16 | 0.24% | −3,201 | −47.21% | 6,781 |
| Gloucester | 11,399 | 65.73% | 5,912 | 34.09% | 30 | 0.17% | −5,487 | −31.64% | 17,341 |
| Goochland | 9,726 | 56.91% | 7,339 | 42.95% | 24 | 0.14% | −2,387 | −13.97% | 17,089 |
| Grayson | 4,614 | 78.35% | 1,264 | 21.46% | 11 | 0.19% | −3,350 | −56.89% | 5,889 |
| Greene | 5,458 | 57.39% | 4,036 | 42.44% | 16 | 0.17% | −1,422 | −14.95% | 9,510 |
| Greensville | 1,427 | 42.76% | 1,902 | 57.00% | 8 | 0.24% | 475 | 14.23% | 3,337 |
| Halifax | 8,027 | 60.26% | 5,272 | 39.58% | 22 | 0.17% | −2,755 | −20.68% | 13,321 |
| Hampton | 12,103 | 25.58% | 35,129 | 74.23% | 91 | 0.19% | 23,026 | 48.66% | 47,323 |
| Hanover | 36,278 | 60.10% | 23,994 | 39.75% | 95 | 0.16% | −12,284 | −20.35% | 60,367 |
| Harrisonburg | 3,654 | 27.70% | 9,512 | 72.12% | 23 | 0.17% | 5,858 | 44.42% | 13,189 |
| Henrico | 45,627 | 30.53% | 103,559 | 69.30% | 260 | 0.17% | 57,932 | 38.76% | 149,446 |
| Henry | 11,150 | 63.71% | 6,320 | 36.11% | 30 | 0.17% | −4,830 | −27.60% | 17,500 |
| Highland | 831 | 69.60% | 362 | 30.32% | 1 | 0.08% | −469 | −39.28% | 1,194 |
| Hopewell | 2,610 | 39.10% | 4,052 | 60.70% | 13 | 0.19% | 1,442 | 21.60% | 6,675 |
| Isle of Wight | 10,931 | 56.95% | 8,227 | 42.86% | 37 | 0.19% | −2,704 | −14.09% | 19,195 |
| James City | 19,029 | 44.57% | 23,603 | 55.28% | 63 | 0.15% | 4,574 | 10.71% | 42,695 |
| King and Queen | 1,985 | 60.50% | 1,292 | 39.38% | 4 | 0.12% | −693 | −21.12% | 3,281 |
| King George | 6,909 | 59.33% | 4,716 | 40.50% | 20 | 0.17% | −2,193 | −18.83% | 11,645 |
| King William | 6,033 | 66.56% | 3,020 | 33.32% | 11 | 0.12% | −3,013 | −33.24% | 9,064 |
| Lancaster | 3,283 | 54.44% | 2,734 | 45.34% | 13 | 0.22% | −549 | −9.10% | 6,030 |
| Lee | 5,439 | 84.13% | 1,019 | 15.76% | 7 | 0.11% | −4,420 | −68.37% | 6,465 |
| Lexington | 686 | 31.66% | 1,475 | 68.07% | 6 | 0.28% | 789 | 36.41% | 2,167 |
| Loudoun | 59,278 | 35.22% | 108,594 | 64.52% | 444 | 0.26% | 49,316 | 29.30% | 168,316 |
| Louisa | 11,279 | 59.52% | 7,628 | 40.25% | 44 | 0.23% | −3,651 | −19.27% | 18,951 |
| Lunenburg | 2,682 | 59.61% | 1,806 | 40.14% | 11 | 0.24% | −876 | −19.47% | 4,499 |
| Lynchburg | 13,508 | 50.41% | 13,231 | 49.38% | 56 | 0.21% | −277 | −1.03% | 26,795 |
| Madison | 4,259 | 64.01% | 2,386 | 35.86% | 9 | 0.14% | −1,873 | −28.15% | 6,654 |
| Manassas | 4,036 | 34.42% | 7,671 | 65.42% | 18 | 0.15% | 3,635 | 31.00% | 11,725 |
| Manassas Park | 1,151 | 28.72% | 2,852 | 71.16% | 5 | 0.12% | 1,701 | 42.44% | 4,008 |
| Martinsville | 1,451 | 36.35% | 2,534 | 63.48% | 7 | 0.18% | 1,083 | 27.13% | 3,992 |
| Mathews | 3,242 | 67.51% | 1,555 | 32.38% | 5 | 0.10% | −1,687 | −35.13% | 4,802 |
| Mecklenburg | 7,151 | 60.50% | 4,657 | 39.40% | 11 | 0.09% | −2,494 | −21.10% | 11,819 |
| Middlesex | 3,473 | 61.44% | 2,174 | 38.46% | 6 | 0.11% | −1,299 | −22.98% | 5,653 |
| Montgomery | 15,228 | 41.46% | 21,428 | 58.34% | 76 | 0.21% | 6,200 | 16.88% | 36,732 |
| Nelson | 3,828 | 49.55% | 3,880 | 50.23% | 17 | 0.22% | 52 | 0.67% | 7,725 |
| New Kent | 8,804 | 63.28% | 5,087 | 36.56% | 22 | 0.16% | −3,717 | −26.72% | 13,913 |
| Newport News | 17,461 | 30.91% | 38,936 | 68.93% | 92 | 0.16% | 21,475 | 38.02% | 56,489 |
| Norfolk | 15,509 | 24.15% | 48,599 | 75.68% | 111 | 0.17% | 33,090 | 51.53% | 64,219 |
| Northampton | 2,469 | 44.59% | 3,060 | 55.26% | 8 | 0.14% | 591 | 10.67% | 5,537 |
| Northumberland | 4,132 | 60.47% | 2,685 | 39.29% | 16 | 0.23% | −1,447 | −21.18% | 6,833 |
| Norton | 721 | 68.34% | 332 | 31.47% | 2 | 0.19% | −389 | −36.87% | 1,055 |
| Nottoway | 3,122 | 57.91% | 2,258 | 41.88% | 11 | 0.20% | −864 | −16.03% | 5,391 |
| Orange | 9,938 | 57.34% | 7,361 | 42.47% | 33 | 0.19% | −2,577 | −14.87% | 17,332 |
| Page | 6,940 | 74.39% | 2,365 | 25.35% | 24 | 0.26% | −4,575 | −49.04% | 9,329 |
| Patrick | 5,119 | 77.42% | 1,488 | 22.50% | 5 | 0.08% | −3,631 | −54.92% | 6,612 |
| Petersburg | 1,124 | 11.29% | 8,811 | 88.46% | 25 | 0.25% | 7,687 | 77.18% | 9,960 |
| Pittsylvania | 17,439 | 70.46% | 7,272 | 29.38% | 38 | 0.15% | −10,167 | −41.08% | 24,749 |
| Poquoson | 4,384 | 70.01% | 1,862 | 29.73% | 16 | 0.26% | −2,522 | −40.27% | 6,262 |
| Portsmouth | 8,351 | 26.55% | 23,040 | 73.25% | 62 | 0.20% | 14,689 | 46.70% | 31,453 |
| Powhatan | 11,862 | 69.57% | 5,168 | 30.31% | 21 | 0.12% | −6,694 | −39.26% | 17,051 |
| Prince Edward | 3,668 | 49.20% | 3,767 | 50.53% | 20 | 0.27% | 99 | 1.33% | 7,455 |
| Prince George | 7,986 | 58.27% | 5,707 | 41.64% | 13 | 0.09% | −2,279 | −16.63% | 13,706 |
| Prince William | 54,309 | 32.74% | 111,198 | 67.03% | 381 | 0.23% | 56,889 | 34.29% | 165,888 |
| Pulaski | 8,607 | 68.55% | 3,927 | 31.28% | 22 | 0.18% | −4,680 | −37.27% | 12,556 |
| Radford | 2,050 | 43.68% | 2,632 | 56.08% | 11 | 0.23% | 582 | 12.40% | 4,693 |
| Rappahannock | 2,231 | 55.10% | 1,812 | 44.75% | 6 | 0.15% | −419 | −10.35% | 4,049 |
| Richmond City | 11,707 | 13.09% | 77,517 | 86.68% | 210 | 0.23% | 65,810 | 73.58% | 89,434 |
| Richmond County | 1,997 | 63.88% | 1,124 | 35.96% | 5 | 0.16% | −873 | −27.93% | 3,126 |
| Roanoke City | 10,153 | 32.82% | 20,700 | 66.91% | 83 | 0.27% | 10,547 | 34.09% | 30,936 |
| Roanoke County | 24,728 | 57.66% | 18,062 | 42.12% | 97 | 0.23% | −6,666 | −15.54% | 42,887 |
| Rockbridge | 6,599 | 64.93% | 3,557 | 35.00% | 7 | 0.07% | −3,042 | −29.93% | 10,163 |
| Rockingham | 24,498 | 67.68% | 11,622 | 32.11% | 76 | 0.21% | −12,876 | −35.57% | 36,196 |
| Russell | 7,268 | 81.13% | 1,673 | 18.68% | 17 | 0.19% | −5,595 | −62.46% | 8,958 |
| Salem | 5,282 | 55.81% | 4,150 | 43.85% | 32 | 0.34% | −1,132 | −11.96% | 9,464 |
| Scott | 6,103 | 83.00% | 1,235 | 16.80% | 15 | 0.20% | −4,868 | −66.20% | 7,353 |
| Shenandoah | 12,488 | 68.53% | 5,698 | 31.27% | 37 | 0.20% | −6,790 | −37.26% | 18,223 |
| Smyth | 7,712 | 76.90% | 2,298 | 22.92% | 18 | 0.18% | −5,414 | −53.99% | 10,028 |
| Southampton | 4,492 | 60.34% | 2,945 | 39.56% | 8 | 0.11% | −1,547 | −20.78% | 7,445 |
| Spotsylvania | 29,015 | 48.47% | 30,748 | 51.36% | 104 | 0.17% | 1,733 | 2.89% | 59,867 |
| Stafford | 27,774 | 43.94% | 35,327 | 55.88% | 115 | 0.18% | 7,553 | 11.95% | 63,216 |
| Staunton | 4,236 | 39.10% | 6,580 | 60.73% | 18 | 0.17% | 2,344 | 21.64% | 10,834 |
| Suffolk | 15,935 | 38.20% | 25,696 | 61.60% | 80 | 0.19% | 9,761 | 23.40% | 41,711 |
| Surry | 1,707 | 47.63% | 1,873 | 52.26% | 4 | 0.11% | 166 | 4.63% | 3,584 |
| Sussex | 1,802 | 46.91% | 2,035 | 52.98% | 4 | 0.10% | 233 | 6.07% | 3,841 |
| Tazewell | 10,407 | 82.10% | 2,248 | 17.73% | 21 | 0.17% | −8,159 | −64.37% | 12,676 |
| Virginia Beach | 75,013 | 44.22% | 94,339 | 55.62% | 269 | 0.16% | 19,326 | 11.39% | 169,621 |
| Warren | 10,433 | 64.29% | 5,757 | 35.47% | 39 | 0.24% | −4,676 | −28.81% | 16,229 |
| Washington | 15,614 | 74.21% | 5,382 | 25.58% | 43 | 0.20% | −10,232 | −48.63% | 21,039 |
| Waynesboro | 4,037 | 47.46% | 4,459 | 52.42% | 11 | 0.13% | 422 | 4.96% | 8,507 |
| Westmoreland | 4,396 | 54.02% | 3,733 | 45.88% | 8 | 0.10% | −663 | −8.15% | 8,137 |
| Williamsburg | 1,647 | 24.51% | 5,063 | 75.35% | 9 | 0.13% | 3,416 | 50.84% | 6,719 |
| Winchester | 3,485 | 39.52% | 5,318 | 60.30% | 16 | 0.18% | 1,833 | 20.78% | 8,819 |
| Wise | 8,744 | 79.15% | 2,281 | 20.65% | 22 | 0.20% | −6,463 | −58.50% | 11,047 |
| Wythe | 8,426 | 76.29% | 2,594 | 23.49% | 24 | 0.22% | −5,832 | −52.81% | 11,044 |
| York | 15,684 | 49.79% | 15,769 | 50.06% | 47 | 0.15% | 85 | 0.27% | 31,500 |
| Totals | 1,449,410 | 42.24% | 1,975,354 | 57.56% | 6,895 | 0.20% | 525,944 | 15.33% | 3,431,659 |
Spanberger won eight of 11 congressional districts, including two held by Republicans. [175]
The 1st district, represented by Republican Rob Wittman since 2007, is generally not competitive. Spanberger became the first Democratic statewide candidate to win the district since 2008.
| District | Earle-Sears | Spanberger | Representative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 49% | 51% | Rob Wittman |
| 2nd | 46% | 54% | Jen Kiggans |
| 3rd | 28% | 72% | Bobby Scott |
| 4th | 30% | 70% | Jennifer McClellan |
| 5th | 54% | 46% | John McGuire |
| 6th | 59% | 41% | Ben Cline |
| 7th | 42% | 57% | Eugene Vindman |
| 8th | 20% | 80% | Don Beyer |
| 9th | 69% | 31% | Morgan Griffith |
| 10th | 40% | 60% | Suhas Subramanyam |
| 11th | 26% | 73% | James Walkinshaw |
Political analysts have described the election as a popularity indicator of the second presidency of Donald Trump in the state. [176] [177]
Spanberger's victory was attributed to anger in Northern Virginia over the mass layoffs of federal workers ordered by the Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk as part of President Donald Trump's efforts to downsize the federal government. Additionally, many furloughed federal workers were energized by the ongoing federal government shutdown. Discontentment with the U.S. economy under Trump, which many Virginians blamed on his tariff policies, also played a factor in motivating Spanberger voters. [178]
Spanberger set a record for most votes received by a gubernatorial candidate in Virginia.
This is the first time since 1985 that a Democrat carried Spotsylvania County, a notable Republican stronghold, as well as Waynesboro City. Stafford County also flipped for the first time since 1985, though Harris won Stafford in 2024. Nelson County and Caroline County also voted Democratic for the first time since 2013. Earle-Sears narrowly retained Lynchburg, home to the evangelical Christian Liberty University, supported by a strong backing from white evangelical Christians, 80% of whom voted for her according to a CNN exit poll. [179] The city had narrowly flipped to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election before returning to a more comfortable margin for Donald Trump in 2024.
Spanberger’s closest victory was in York County (home to Yorktown, Virginia), which voted Democratic for the first time since 1965. York has not voted Democratic for president since 1964. Kamala Harris did win 46% in York in 2024, losing the county by 6%, the best performance in the county since 1964. [180]
With the exception of the 2013 election, Virginia has elected a governor of the opposite party of the sitting president of the United States in every election since 1977. [181] According to a CNN exit poll, Trump had just a 39% job approval rating among the general electorate in Virginia. Spanberger won 99% of Kamala Harris's voters and 7% of Trump's 2024 voters. [182]
| Demographic subgroup | Spanberger | Earle-Sears | % of total vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ideology | |||
| Liberals | 96 | 4 | 33 |
| Moderates | 69 | 31 | 33 |
| Conservatives | 10 | 90 | 35 |
| Party | |||
| Democrats | 99 | 1 | 36 |
| Republicans | 7 | 93 | 31 |
| Independents | 59 | 40 | 33 |
| Donald Trump job approval | |||
| Approve | 6 | 94 | 39 |
| Disapprove | 92 | 7 | 59 |
| Most important issue facing Virginia | |||
| Economy | 63 | 36 | 48 |
| Health care | 81 | 18 | 21 |
| Education | 55 | 45 | 11 |
| Immigration | 11 | 89 | 11 |
| 2024 presidential vote | |||
| Kamala Harris | 99 | 1 | 51 |
| Donald Trump | 7 | 93 | 42 |
| Another candidate | 61 | 36 | 2 |
| Did not vote | 61 | 39 | 3 |
| Gender | |||
| Men | 48 | 51 | 47 |
| Women | 65 | 35 | 53 |
| Income | |||
| $200,000 or more | 64 | 36 | 14 |
| $100,000-$199,999 | 51 | 48 | 28 |
| $50,000-$99,999 | 58 | 42 | 31 |
| Less than $50,000 | 63 | 37 | 26 |
| Race/ethnicity | |||
| White | 47 | 53 | 71 |
| Asian | 80 | 20 | 4 |
| Latino | 67 | 33 | 5 |
| Black | 93 | 7 | 16 |
| White born-again or evangelical Christian? | |||
| Yes | 20 | 80 | 28 |
| No | 71 | 29 | 72 |
| Race by gender | |||
| White men | 38 | 61 | 34 |
| White women | 54 | 46 | 36 |
| Black men | 89 | 11 | 7 |
| Black women | 96 | 3 | 9 |
| Latino men | 53 | 47 | 2 |
| Latina women | 78 | 22 | 2 |
| All other voters | 73 | 27 | 9 |
| Age | |||
| 18–29 years old | 70 | 29 | 13 |
| 30–44 years old | 62 | 38 | 20 |
| 45-64 years old | 55 | 45 | 35 |
| 65 and older | 51 | 49 | 32 |
| Area type | |||
| Urban | 66 | 34 | 19 |
| Suburban | 59 | 41 | 57 |
| Rural | 46 | 54 | 24 |
| Education | |||
| College graduate | 63 | 36 | 52 |
| No college degree | 50 | 49 | 48 |
| Education by race | |||
| White college graduates | 57 | 43 | 38 |
| Non-white college graduates | 80 | 19 | 14 |
| Whites without college | 34 | 66 | 33 |
| Non-whites without college | 85 | 15 | 15 |
| Education by gender and race | |||
| White women with college degrees | 65 | 35 | 20 |
| White women without college degrees | 39 | 60 | 16 |
| White men with college degrees | 48 | 52 | 18 |
| White men without college degrees | 29 | 71 | 17 |
| Voters of color | 83 | 17 | 30 |
| Educational attainment | |||
| Advanced degree | 68 | 32 | 23 |
| Bachelor's degree | 60 | 40 | 29 |
| Associate's degree | 53 | 47 | 10 |
| Some college | 55 | 45 | 17 |
| Never attended college | 46 | 54 | 21 |
Partisan clients
The off-year races are often a bellwether for the national mood a year before the midterms.
Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan and Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin joined her.
Official campaign websites